Making industry connections at trade shows

Trade show helps rejuvenate and refresh owners and operators.

The reasons why someone attends a trade show vary greatly. Obviously, my goals for attending industry trade shows, such as last month’s The Car Wash Show™, differ from a manufacturer’s reasons for attending. However, most readers of this publication share similar goals and objectives.

While the importance of regional shows cannot be understated, last month’s show, which was hosted by the International Carwash Association (ICA), offered unique opportunities for owners and operators. And, these unique opportunities are sometimes rarely seen in other professions or at other industry trade shows.

While meeting suppliers and manufacturers face-to-face and taking advantage of the associated education sessions are two of the more obvious reasons why carwash owners and operators attend this show, some of our readers have noted other significant benefits when attending The Car Wash Show annually.

Some carwash professionals have explained that bringing team members to the show is an effective way to motivate them and open their eyes to our industry’s scope and innovations.

And, while manufacturers, suppliers as well as the event’s presenters are all great sources of obtaining industry information, other owners and operators have told me that understanding best practices, testing new ideas and gaining fresh industry insights all derive from conversations at the show with other owners and operators.

This special and unique aspect of our industry was witnessed on and off the trade show floor last month in Las Vegas.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at the show to sign up for a free subscription or grab one of our several freebies. We also appreciate the feedback we received while at the show. We continually strive to produce better print and digital products, and your feedback helps guide us for future editorial planning.

It was also nice to see our long-standing partners and supporters of Professional Carwashing & Detailing magazine at the show. We thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to seeing all of you again soon.

In addition to a brief recap of the show, with photos, we feature several articles in this issue to help you grow your marketplace knowledge and profits.